Jim Daly

So Wonderfully You Made Me

“Amy” looks like a typical 22 year-old college student. She is smart, focused, energetic and enthusiastic. She acts and talks with an eye towards a bright future, even thinking about law school after finishing her bachelor’s degree.

She is also not ashamed to be happy, though just over three years ago, she was told her life would be ruined unless she did the very thing she least wanted to do. Many of her friends may have disagreed with her choice, called her crazy and assured her that regret would follow all the days of her life.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, pro-life

Daly Trips to the E.R.

I was driving home from the airport the other night when my cell phone rang. It was my sweet wife, Jean, calling, always a welcome occurrence, especially after a day away from home.

“Guess where we are?” she asked with a lilt and bit of play in her voice.

I didn’t want to say it, but I was thinking, I don’t want to guess … please tell me.

My suspicions were quickly confirmed.

“We’re at the emergency room again,” she said, “but this time it’s for Troy.”

I could tell by the tone of her voice that Troy wasn’t in any grave danger, but anytime your child requires professional medical attention there is always cause for concern.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: events, family, kids, parenting

Radio Changes Lives

I want to briefly share something exciting with you.

Each day, a team member here at Focus on the Family compiles what we internally refer to as a “Response Report” regarding the daily radio broadcast. Our phone representatives talk with thousands of listeners per day, and they record what people are thinking and saying about the day’s radio program. Some of the callers are blunt and don’t hesitate to criticize the program; still others might praise the very same one.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, marriage

Busy! Busy!

Are you feeling a bit frazzled? If so, I hope you’ll tune in today to the second part (Part one is available here) of a two-day broadcast. To listen, simply click here.

Our guest is my friend Dr. Richard Swenson. Dr. Swenson is a trained medical physician who served for 27 years in both private practice and as an instructor with the University of Wisconsin. He left the profession when he felt God was leading him to be what he calls a “watchman on the wall”–someone who interprets the signs of the times.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith, technology

Tension is Good!

GUEST BLOG

Catalyst 2010: A Movement of Restorers

Esther Fleece

Where can you find 13,000 multi-generational leaders who wholeheartedly desire to serve God’s purpose within their generation?

The Catalyst conference in Atlanta is a great place to start.

Thousands of “grass top” leaders gathered there last week, displaying a beautiful spirit of unity among evangelical subgroups.

It’s not an overstatement to suggest those in attendance are changing the world.

How?

One person at a time.

Groups like TOMS Shoes celebrated an incredible milestone of giving the one millionth pair of new shoes to a child in need.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: entertainment, events, faith, pop culture

Who is Wooing You?

It sounds like the opening line of a classic Dr. Seuss kid’s book, doesn’t it?

Who is wooing you?

When it comes to romantic relationships, I think there’s a tendency to see “wooing” as primarily a component of courtship prior to marriage. It’s a familiar scene, isn’t it? There is the boyfriend, flowers and chocolates in hand, maybe even leaving a little love note under his girlfriend’s windshield wiper at work. A colleague of mine, while dating his then girlfriend, now wife, would bring groceries to her apartment in between paychecks.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, family, marriage, pop culture

Boy Down!

It is late and we’ve just returned from the emergency room.

I am reminded of an old poem by Roberta I. Teague. It’s titled, “Raising Boys.”

Here is a brief but relevant excerpt:

Broken bones and bloody knees,
I should have been a nurse.
I take it all in shaky stride-
Just grateful it’s not worse!

Many of you have been so kind to pray — and continue to inquire — about the status of my broken ankle.

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Man Up?

If you’re a guy and attend either a male-led small group or Bible study, or even pay the slightest attention to discussions about gender, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the catchphrase, “Man Up!”

What does it even mean?

My friend and Focus on the Family board member and president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Al Mohler, has an opinion. Responding to a recent Newsweek cover story on the subject of modern masculinity, Dr. Mohler wrote the following:

A true masculinity is grounded in a man’s determination to fulfill his manhood in being a good husband, father, citizen, worker, leader, and friend — one who makes a difference, fulfills a role for others, and devotes his life to these tasks.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family, husband

Boys and Baseball

I have been traveling a lot lately, too much, really. Over the course of the last ten days, I’ve gone from Colorado to New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, back up to New York City, Texas and all the way across the country to California. It was productive and exhilarating, and I had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of great friends, both new and old.

But the trip was missing a favorite thing – my family! How I hate being away from Jean and the boys.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: family, kids, parenting

Update from Option Ultrasound

Many of you have been supporting and praying for Focus on the Family’s Option Ultrasound outreach. For those who might not be familiar with this ministry, the Option Ultrasound Program provides grants to qualifying pregnancy medical clinics for 80% of the cost of a new ultrasound machine or sonography training for medical personnel. Research has revealed that abortion minded women are much less likely to have an abortion after seeing an image of the child they are carrying.

Continue ReadingTopics: Family and Home Tags: pro-life, technology